Mid-week uncluttering

[fred_mouse]

What have you found to set free today?

I have found the hand-bag I stashed last year for this year's 'It's in the Bag' charity drive, so I have to remember to take that (and the two bags from a friend) into work to hand over to the coordinators. I'll also talk about what specifically they are going to need for filling said bags, and work out what I'm going to contribute.

And I'm thinking about having a November challenge, at the very least for me. Because it should be obvious, that things not bought are clutter avoided (I was in the craft shop at the time, being virtuous and only buying the thing I went there for). But I'm a bit of an impulse shopper, and I don't always use what I buy.

Thus, for November, I'm going for buy only what I need. So, the packet of biscuits to replace the one opened when we had unexpected visitors? Yep, need that. But the other packet of biscuits, to eat now, I don't need those. That interesting looking book in the op-shop (why am I in an op-shop when avoiding buying extra Stuff? oops) can stay there. Yarn. Movies. Knick-knacks, all stay in the shops. I am going to allow myself one concession -- the gifting season is on its way, and because I don't do personalised presents, but set up a basket, I'm going to allow 'items for the gifting basket' in the 'that's okay' column. Ditto birthday presents.

If other people are interested in doing the same, I'll aim to include this in my mid-week and weekend posts. If people want to only focus on the getting rid of things aspect of unclutter, that's cool, and I'll report it in my own journal.

Comments

[kalloway]

Since life has been ridiculous and I haven't had time for anything in weeks, today was a huge clean-up/clean-out. Old shoes went in the dumpster, along with scary stuff from fridge and freezer. Large unused box went to be recycled, and one nightshirt is on the shelf to be donated.

More as I get to it.

[yukonsally]

I sold two things and had to ship both, using some of those damn padded envelopes. We have only 5 or 6 right now and I have no use for them at the moment. I also had to buy 3 things online, so I expect 3 more padded envelopes soon and hope they are the recyclable kind.

Also dropped a bag of plastic bags in the recycling bin at the grocery store.

Added a few things to the handmedown bin, which is nearly ready to send, less than a week after the last box! Oh, growing children. I dropped a donation box off at the second hand store.

[peaceful_sands]

Good luck with your challenge - I've been sort of doing that for most of the year (with occasional slip ups). My latest slip up involved rather a lot of books - there was a situation where a book was just the right price to qualify me for free postage with Amazon, I also had a token for Book Depository which resulted in even more book additions...

I've taken a little bit of a backward step due to someone else having a purge that resulted in some conflict - as an aim to assist in smoothing the way, I am now storing the vast majority of the purged items from someone else's house which is proving to be a bit of a pain as my hallway has gone from clean and tidy to completely cluttered - I need to declutter some of my own stuff in the spare room and create a space in which it can all be stored in a way that is more conducive to my peace of mind, without risking ruining the progress I've been making with my own decluttering in the rest of the house.

In terms of my own decluttering some more books and DVDs have gone out. As I got rid of a lot of outgrown children's toys that my niece played with when she was younger, I acquired a more age appropriate board game for her to play - it was a great success when she spent the day here yesterday. We also made a couple of crafting projects as Christmas gifts - generating a bit more space eventually (not just yet but once they're given away we'll be good) and a tentative plan for her to visit again and we'll do more.

As I've managed to make some real progress this year and have made several rooms look so much nicer, I have treated myself to two new rugs (one for the lounge and one for my bedroom). This also helps to make the areas look better as the carpets look worn in certain spots and now I can hide these and reduce further wear.

[sauscony]

I sorted both the leftover Halloween candy and what we got Trick-or-Treating into what I can eat, what my daughter can eat, and what my husband can eat. And I set most of the plain M&Ms aside to bake cookies with this weekend. :-)

I also have two books to post on swap sites and a book to mail today. I hope to glance through a few more books and hopefully get rid of a few today too.